Streaming to the Masses
Ever wonder why you only see streaming video on high-profile corporate
Web sites and not on small business sites or even personal Weblogs? It's
because streaming anything of decent quality online is normally just too
expensive for the average Web user. Not anymore. Local marketing company
Advantage Comm-unications is offering an affordable solution for people
looking to stream video over the Web, and it is surprisingly simple. Using
a video cam, customers record their messages, upload them to the provider's
site and are given links, which they can either email or post on their homepages.
When emailing, there are no downloads or attachments, so recipients needn't
worry about bulky files or viruses.
Advantage Communications President Mindy Sue Ash says the service, which
starts at $11.95 per month for up to 500 one-minute messages, is popular
with military families, but has far greater applications. "We've got real
estate agents using it to do home tours, small businesses are doing mini
commercials and sales presentations," she says. Ash has some creative
uses of her own for the product: She sent a customized video to Hawaii
Business to pitch the service!
- Jacy L. Youn
Blue (Berry) Hawaii?
When people think of blueberry-producing states, they're more likely
to look at New England than Hawaii. Still, researchers at the College
of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources on the Big Island believe
this could be Hawaii's next specialty fruit. Why blueberries? West Hawaii
research station farm manager Milton Yamasaki says blueberries thrive
in cool, moist environments in high elevations that are not usable for
"truck crops" that thrive in drier climates, such as lettuce and tomatoes.
Another reason is its antioxidant properties, which attract health-conscious
baby boomers. He says Hawaii's year-round growing season could create
a niche for off-season fruit sold at premium prices. He says he's seen
four-ounce boxes retailing for $4 to $5, almost double the price in the
summer months. "Lands have become expensive and limited in area so we
need to find high-value crops so farmers can utilize their land to the
utmost," says Yamasaki.
- Maria Torres-Kitamura
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| Photo: Scott
Bauer, USDA Agricultural Research Service |
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New
Year’s Resolution: Be Prepared
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According
to the American Red Cross, as many as 40 percent of small businesses
do not reopen after a disaster such as a flood, tornado or earthquake.
Sometimes the disaster isn't major. An overturned truck or broken
water main in front of your building may not ruin your inventory,
but it may keep your suppliers from getting into your warehouse. Therefore,
a company's disaster plan, how it continues with business when its
physical and human resources are taxed, is just as important as its
business plan.
In
2004, the American Red Cross introduced its "Guide to Business Continuity
Planning," an interactive CD-ROM that provides step-by-step instruction
to help businesses address life safety issues, minimize interruption
to their businesses and customers, transition back to normal operations
and create a formalized business plan using forms included on the
CD-ROM. The interactive guide, which plays on both PC and Macintosh
computers, is easy to navigate and retails for $39.95. A companion
printed guide, a quick reference on first aid and emergency preparedness,
is $8.95. To purchase these resources, call the American Red Cross's
Hawaii State Chapter office at 739-8182.
-
David K. Choo
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